Author: Ani Basmajian

Artsakh presidential elections stemmed from real hazards – Armenian analyst

Ani Basmajian
Tert, Armenia

13:06 • 21.07.17

Bako Sahakyan’s re-election as the interim president of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) stemmed from real challenges and hazards which the country perceived, says a Yerevan-based political analyst.

Alexander Iskandaryan dismisses the concerns that the February 19 voting by the country’s top legislative body may meet the international community’s criticism as a “deviation from democratic standards”.

“Artsakh never chooses living standards in anticipation of winning or failing to win anyone’s sympathy. That’s a process linked to domestic issues, which have taken a different course over the recent years,” he told Tert.am.  

Artsakh no longer relies the international community’s support, or assistance in its future recognition based on the democratic progress, Iskandaryan added.

“All now understand that nobody is going to resolve the problem instead of Karabakh,” he noted.  

Highlighting the existing hazards in the country, Iskandaryan also stressed the importance of consolidation as a possible way towards facilitating future decision-making.

He also underlined the country’s incomparably high democratic progress as opposed to Azerbaijan. “Karabakh cannot possibly be compared with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is not Transcaucasus; it is Middle East with all its oil resources,” he noted.

 Commenting on the situation along the country's borders, Iskandaryan ruled out any connection between the repeated frontline tensions and the electoral processes. “What happens along the Line of Contact is an Azerbaijani decision which wasn’t absolutely adopted today or even yesterday. Azerbaijan avoids full-scale [military] actions but doesn’t consider negotiations as a possibility of a peaceful settlement either. Hence, under the circumstances, this situation is expected to continue,” he added.

 

Deputy Chairman: Armenia’s Heritage Party will not topple current authorities

Ani Basmajian
News.am, Armenia


Deputy Chairman: Armenia’s Heritage Party will not topple current authorities
21:36, 22.07.2017

YEREVAN. – Heritage Party will not initiate the toppling of the current authorities, Deputy Chairman of the party, Armen Martirosyan, told Armenian News – NEWS.am on Saturday.

The Deputy Chairman said he is waiting only for one thing. “Will the Armenian community want to make changes or not? The society has no wish to organize the toppling of the current authorities,” Martirosyan said, adding that if the Armenian opposition forces decide to initiate such a process, they will join.

Leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian recently stated that they will launch the process of Velvet Revolution in Armenia if acting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan continues to govern the country in 2018. 

Azerbaijani Side Fired at Village of Barekamavan

Ani Basmajian
Lragir, Armenia

Lragir.am
Country – Sunday, , 00:53

The head of Barekamavan village told tert.am that on June 21 the Azerbaijani side fired in the direction of the village between 11 pm and 1 am, using heavy machine guns and automatic rifles. The head of the village said there are no casualties. Only the roofs of some houses were damaged. He noted that they fire at the military positions regularly but last time they fired at the village was a year ago.

Report: IT opens new perspectives for Armenian banking sector

Ani Basmajian
Banks.am, Armenia

20.07.2017 | 16:09 Home / News /

Image by: http://www.ordersender.com

According to Trust in Technology report by HSBC, wide access to web and mobile communication in Armenia has provided a sound ground for augmenting the use and diversification of innovative technologies.

The research represents the views of 12 000 people from 11 countries and territories.
 
At the end of 2015, the number of mobile phone subscribers was 3,4m, while the number of subscribers with the access to internet was 2,1m.

Armenia has recently reported significant revenue growth in Telecommunications and Information Technology sector: AMD 60,572,9m in 2017 compared to AMD 52,997,2m in 2016, showing high potential for further development.

In addition, electronic governance (e-governance) supported by the Government is also on the rise, offering easy access to information and data management through websites such as e-register.am, https://www.e-gov.am/en/, http://www.e-cadastre.am/en.

HSBC experts consider that these trends show overall positive outlook on technology sector development in Armenia, including banking. 

Mihran Muradyan, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC Armenia commented HSBC, commented on the report, noting that consumers demonstrate trust and growing use of technology for managing their data and finance, especially in Eastern countries

“Technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in our everyday lives, transforming industries, including banking. We can see this trend spreading in Armenia as well,” Mihran Muradyan remarked. 

According to him, to meet the ever evolving customer expectations, HSBC Armenia has always been looking for ways to bring the best technology solutions to customers.

“HSBC was the first to introduce ATM to local market, as well as full scale of Internet/Mobile Banking services and highest security standards. It has recently presented MasterCard contactless cards ensuring more convenience and higher personal data security for customers.

Trust in Technology Report says 80% of respondents believe that technology makes their lives easier but almost three quarters (70%) rely on dated passwords for access and security.

According to HSBC report, there is a reliance on long established methods of money management with the most common traditional channels including: 

1.    Online banking via a bank website (67%)
2.    ATMs (55%)
3.    Branch visits (41%)

http://www.banks.am/en/news/newsfeed/14151 

His Holiness Garegin II congratulates Bako Sahakyan on his re-election as President of Artsakh

Ani Basmajian 
Armenpress News Agency, Armenia
 Wednesday


His Holiness Garegin II congratulates Bako Sahakyan on his re-election
as President of Artsakh



YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II sent a congratulatory letter on July 19 to President of
Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on his re-election as the Artsakh President, the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress.

“Since the years of the Artsakh heroic liberation war, you had an
important contribution on strengthening the defense and independent
statehood of Nagorno Karabakh in your responsible posts. Over the past
ten years, as the President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, you
increased your efforts aimed at contributing to the progress and
development of political, cultural and economic life of the Artsakh
Armenians. We are happy that after the constitutional changes of the
Artsakh Republic, our people of Artsakh in the face of the country’s
National Assembly, again trusted the responsible mission to lead the
country for the upcoming years to you by highly appreciating your
patriotism, skills and abilities and rich experience. Dear President,
standing before the Holy Altar, we deliver our prayer to Almighty God
so that the God will give you new significant achievements for the
sake of peace of the Artsakh world and secure life of our people”,
reads the congratulatory letter of His Holiness Garegin II.

First buckwheat processing factory to open in Armenia

Ani Basmajian
Public Radio of Armenia

July 14 2017
10:37, 14 Jul 2017
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The first Armenian buckwheat will be available in the local stores soon. Armenia, that has been importing buckwheat since its independence, will have locally produced buckwheat thanks to the European Neighborhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) and the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund.

Since 2015, ENPARD “Producer Group and Value Chain Development” project, financed by the European Union and Austrian Development Agency, works with 53 primary producer and processing cooperatives.

551 farmers from 67 communities are involved in 34 cooperatives of buckwheat production in Shirak, Lori, Aragatsotn, Kotayk and Gegharkunik Marzes. They supply buckwheat to the factories in Tsovagyugh and Bavra, the latter uniting 28 cooperatives from Shirak, Lori and Aragatsotn in one cluster.

In 2016 the project provided the primary producer cooperatives with buckwheat seeds and fertilisers, and the processing cooperatives were provided with factory machinery. As a result, 520 ha area was sowed, and an average of 1.2 tons of buckwheat harvest per 1 ha was recorded in 2016.

Besides, with the support of the project, local and international experts have provided the farmers with trainings on buckwheat sowing, fertilizing, harvesting, storage, processing, as well as buckwheat-related beekeeping and honey production.

The construction of Bavra factory premises was funded by “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, while the works were implemented by the cooperative.

“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund, being an advocate for the development of Armenia and Artsakh for more than 25 years, attaches great importance to the agricultural sector and acknowledges the relevance of ensuring sustainable income by the farmers. As such, since 2011 the Fund operates “Himnatavush” development foundation in Tavush Marz, through which around 500 thousand Euro investments are being channeled to agriculture annually.

Recently, 100th greenhouse, dedicated to 100th family of Tavush, was opened in in Tavush with funding of Argentinian-Armenian and Australian-Armenian philanthropists.

Iran Cautions Rising Tensions Between Armenia, Azerbaijan Over Nagorno-Karabakh Region

Ani Basmajian 
FARS News Agency, Iran
 Tuesday


Iran Cautions Rising Tensions Between Armenia, Azerbaijan Over
Nagorno-Karabakh Region



TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi voiced
concern over the escalation of tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and said that the increase in
conflicts is not in the interest of Azeri and Armenian people.

"Iran will spare no efforts to decrease tensions in this region," Qassemi said.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman expressed the hope for
restoration of peace and stability in the region and cautioned about
enemy's plots for provoking violence.

In relevant remarks in January 2015, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif reiterated that the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between
Azerbaijan and Armenia can be resolved only through political
solutions.

"We hope that the (Nagorno-) Karabakh dispute will be resolved only
through compliance with the international laws and talks between the
two sides," Zarif said in Yerevan.

He further reiterated that Iran wishes peace and stability for its neighbors.

Despite facing strong international pressure, the Armenian and
Azerbaijani leaders have failed to agree on the basic principles of
ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict put forward by Russia, the United
States and France in 2011.

Armenia and Azerbaijan thus remain officially at war over
Nagorno-Karabakh and the dispute is a major source of tension in the
South Caucasus region wedged between Iran, Russia and Turkey.

No country - not even Armenia - officially recognizes Karabakh as an
independent state.

The mountainous rebel region has been controlled by ethnic Armenians
since it broke free of Baku's control after a fierce war in the early
1990s that killed 30,000 people.

Մամուլի հաղորդագրություն – Միջազգային ֆինանսական կորպորացիայի (IFC) չհիմնավորված վստահությունն օֆշորային Լիդիանի նկատմամբ / IFC’s groundless trust towards offshore Lydian International company

Ani Basmajian
Բարի օր,
Հարգելի լրատվամիջոցներ խնդրում ենք հրապարակել կից հայերեն և անգլերեն հոդվածը՝ պահպանելով բոլոր ակտիվ հղումները (hyperlink):

Հարգանքով – Best regards,
Հայկական բնապահպանական ճակատ (ՀԲՃ) քաղաքացիական նախաձեռնություն – Armenian Environmental Front (AEF) Civil Initiative

Website: http://www.armecofront.net/
YouTube channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/armecofront
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/armecofront
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/armecofront

Կապ / Contact person Լևոն Գալստյան / Levon Galstyan – հեռ./tel. +374 91 53 49 59,
+374 93  53 49 59, +374 10 53 05 88

Հասցե` Երևան, Սպենդիարյան 5, բն. 24
Address: 5 Spendiaryan str. apt. 24, Yerevan, Armenia



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Sports: Henrikh Mkhitaryan sends message to Manchester United supporters

Ani Basmajian
Manchester Evening News, UK
 
 
Henrikh Mkhitaryan sends message to Manchester United supporters
 
Henrikh Mkhitaryan enjoyed an excellent first season at Man Utd under Jose Mourinho and has opened up on it in a Facebook Q&A.
 
 
By Alice McKeegan
 
16:00, 24 JUN 2017
 
 
Manchester United player Henrikh Mkhitaryan has thanked fans for their support during his first season at the club and revealed he loves his chant in a Facebook Q&A.
 
United fans sing 'Whoa, Mkhitaryan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, he's our midfield Armenian' to the tune of Sting's 1987 single Englishman in New York.
 
The song has been endorsed again by Mkhitaryan, who enjoyed a successful first campaign at Old Trafford which culminated in him scoring the winning goal in the Europa League final versus Ajax in Stockholm.
 
   
The 28-year-old's amazing scorpion kick against Sunderland on Boxing Day was also voted goal of the season by supporters.
 
Mkhitaryan took part in a question and answer session on his Facebook page on Friday – and was asked by the M.E.N. if he had a message for United fans who had supported him over the season.
 
He replied: "People in Manchester and our fans have been great to me since the beginning and I am so thankful for that. It's also great when they sing my song in the stands."
 
 
Mkhitaryan generously gave up his time to connect with his followers across the world and answered a number of questions on everything from working with Jose Mourinho (he's a winner) to his favourite type of food (Italian and Armenian).
 
He reassured fans he was managing to take a break during the off-season and also had a positive message for a supporter, telling him: "Dreams come true when you work hard, are positive and believe in yourself."
 
And he told another young fan: "My tip for success is honestly to believe in yourself whatever you do and work hard. Anything is possible in life if you are confident, positive and hard working."
 
He also expressed a desire to open a football academy in his home country, Armenia, writing: "I’ve thought about it and would love to develop the idea in the future to teach my football philosophy to Armenian children."
 
 
Some of Mkhitaryan's best Q&A responses:
 
On his chant, he told a supporter: "I love it. It’s great that our fans made a song for me and it gives me a lot of motivation when I hear it in the stadium!"
 
On his aims for next season: "I'd love to score more goals and give more assists… and help the team win as many trophies as possible. Will give my best!
 
On the Champions League and facing Real Madrid in the Super Cup: "The Champions League is where Manchester United belongs and we are all happy to be playing this great competition again. For the new season we definitely want to fight for the title. For the supercup it should be a fantastic game against Real Madrid!"
 
 
On working with Mourinho: "Jose is a winner. He works so hard to win every single game and to make sure that we are all ready to give 100%. He gives us emotion, and motivation. I have learned a lot from him and will continue to do so this season."
 
On his favourite United goals: "The scorpion goal was most beautiful, but the winning goal in the Europa League final was the most important one."
 
On his highlight of the season: "Definitely lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy in Stockholm. We worked so hard to win this competition and it was truly special to be able to do it. Now we are really looking forward to be back in the UEFA Champions League."
 
 
 
 
 

Deputy Minister: 8 Armenian villages damaged by hailstorm

Ani Basmajian
news.am, Armenia
Deputy Minister: 8 Armenian villages damaged by hailstorm

17:57, 13.06.2017

YEREVAN. – Eight Armenian villages in Ararat valley have been damaged by Monday hailstorm, deputy agriculture minister said.

The agriculture ministry is calculating damages in other regions as well. As soon as the work is completed, the ministry will listen to the requests of the farmers.

In early April 2017 Karen Karapetyan instructed to submit proposals on the way toda improve the effectiveness of anti-hail installations, as well as to expand the use of anti-hail networks in two weeks.